riverbendlapidary
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2006
Posts: 1,058
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Post by riverbendlapidary on Jan 19, 2013 15:43:28 GMT -5
10 bucks for a cheap little round polyvinyl belt seems a but much. anyone have any luck using vacuum cleaner belts or anything else?
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jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
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Post by jspencer on Jan 19, 2013 17:39:43 GMT -5
Mel have you tried a heavy gauge O-ring? I brought back a basket case Genie from the dead for a friend. When I had trouble locating a source for the belt I went to a gasket supply house and bought O-rings that seemed to match in length. I paid about $6.50 and got 3 rings that worked like a charm.
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Post by johnjsgems on Jan 19, 2013 19:26:50 GMT -5
Try McMaster Carr. They carry every size and kind.
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Post by MrP on Jan 19, 2013 20:45:16 GMT -5
O-rings do not last. The correct belts for the VT will last a year or more. O-rings a week or two. Not worth the trouble no matter the cost...................MrP
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jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
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Post by jspencer on Jan 19, 2013 22:44:05 GMT -5
The O- rings I used were almost 1/4" dia. The first one is still working 2 years later.
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colliel82
has rocks in the head
Member since November 2007
Posts: 664
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Post by colliel82 on Jan 20, 2013 2:46:15 GMT -5
If you find something that works for you please post it and where you found it. The used vt 14 I purchased had o rings and they just didn't work very well. After purchasing the correct belts, the machine ran much better, but you are right 2 belts at $10/each can be a little pricey.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Jan 20, 2013 10:58:29 GMT -5
O-rings vary in composition as to purpose, urethane is the mtl. to get when using them as drive belts. Nitrile rubber is the composition most commonly found, as it is a good general purpose mtl., but not so good for drive belts. You might have to talk to a local hydraulic shop to get them.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2013 3:18:26 GMT -5
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Post by johnjsgems on Jan 21, 2013 8:34:54 GMT -5
I can only offer 10% off on the belts. The hoppers are relined in house at Diamond Pacific. It is not a liner insert. I get no discount on the relining so can offer none. Thanks for thinking of me though.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2013 10:05:12 GMT -5
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Post by johnjsgems on Jan 27, 2013 11:23:46 GMT -5
I'm sorry but I just don't have everything on my site. I think I have close to 400 items but no tumbler parts at all. As I understand the VT tumblers the $238 is for the twin hoppers with lids to fit the VT base which is sold separately. The VSV models use same base but use adapters to use the Mini Sonic type hoppers.
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snowdog
fully equipped rock polisher
RIP David Fildes, aka: snowdog
Member since January 2005
Posts: 1,527
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Post by snowdog on Jan 28, 2013 10:17:32 GMT -5
ASI ---- think that is for a single hopper --- (I have some of these, used)--- if you press select to buy, it says it weighs @7# for shipping -- I just weighed one of mine and it weighs 5 & 3/4 without the lid, so boxed & lid would prob be 7 # --I will say they are heavy duty tho. the casting is about 3/4" thick and the vinyl lining is about another 3/4" -- some of mine are from the mid 60's and they still are just fine ! ( don't know how many years it would take to wear one out ;D --- I have bought 2 of the 50# hoppers in the last couple years ( only 50 years old),but, they don't have the outer al casting--they are just thick rubber/vinyl ( they were $230, which is more than the whole tumbler was back in the mid 60's (( $193)) -- I too would like to find a cheaper belt that would hold up as long as the hoppers ! the last ones I bought from DP only lasted a day --they came apart on the seam where they were glued/melted together to form the circle
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riverbendlapidary
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2006
Posts: 1,058
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Post by riverbendlapidary on Jan 29, 2013 0:01:02 GMT -5
I found some vacuum cleaner belts that fit. Will advise how long they last. They are only about $1.50 each!
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Post by tims on May 18, 2020 18:54:16 GMT -5
I found some vacuum cleaner belts that fit. Will advise how long they last. They are only about $1.50 each! Did the vac belts hold up ok?
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Post by pauls on May 18, 2020 19:50:50 GMT -5
look up Urethane belts and make your own, there's even a youtube video how to do it, it's dead easy and you can do it with a few simple tools from your kitchen. (cigarette lighter and a knife)
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,182
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Post by jamesp on May 19, 2020 2:43:22 GMT -5
I buy a bag of 50 o-rings on EBAY for $24. I am tired of changing them after 4 to 5 days running. Almost used 100 o-rings. I believe polyurethane is the best way for an o-ring drive belt. Nitrile and other sealing rubbers suck at being used for drive belts. Tired of bruising finger tips replacing them ! timsHowever... The elasticity of the drive belts does effect the spring behavior in that machine. The belts do pull the top section down onto the springs. It took a long time to dial the Sonic in for my purposes. I polish fickle glass in my Sonic and am not too interested in changing it's vibration characteristics at all. So I may stick with the nitrile. Or more accurately BUNA-N, which is probably nitrile. These on EBAY for $25: 50 Pack USA SEALING BUNA N Silicone O-Ring Size 337 Black 70A 3” I.D.
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Post by oregon on May 19, 2020 16:05:38 GMT -5
yeah looking at the professional setup to make urethane belts it seems pretty straight forward. I needed 3/16 belts for two other things so...
downloaded a parallel pliers file, modified the jaw and printed a pair. ordered 10' of 3/16 urethane and all is well. Not the simplest route, but fun to have a tool make a new tool. As James said, the viking is a complicated beast, so having reproducible belts is probably important. I have an original pair of nitrile Orings on there, still figuring this tumbler out but plan on some urethane belts once they go. look up Urethane belts and make your own, there's even a youtube video how to do it, it's dead easy and you can do it with a few simple tools from your kitchen. (cigarette lighter and a knife) I buy a bag of 50 o-rings on EBAY for $24. I am tired of changing them after 4 to 5 days running. Almost used 100 o-rings. I believe polyurethane is the best way for an o-ring drive belt. Nitrile and other sealing rubbers suck at being used for drive belts. Tired of bruising finger tips replacing them ! tims However... The elasticity of the drive belts does effect the spring behavior in that machine. The belts do pull the top section down onto the springs. It took a long time to dial the Sonic in for my purposes. I polish fickle glass in my Sonic and am not too interested in changing it's vibration characteristics at all. So I may stick with the nitrile. Or more accurately BUNA-N, which is probably nitrile. These on EBAY for $25: 50 Pack USA SEALING BUNA N Silicone O-Ring Size 337 Black 70A 3” I.D.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,182
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Post by jamesp on May 19, 2020 23:27:02 GMT -5
I get good results with 'non stock' belts oregon. I checked the stiffness of the old o-rings to the new batch and found the new batch quite a bit stiffer. Noticeable when trying to streeeeetch them over the sheaves ! 4 very stiff springs on that machine, they may easily overcome the difference in belt tension. Anyway, no difference in tumbling performance whatsoever. I have tumbled 4 batches with the new stiffer o-rings and all went like normal. Very cool jig for bonding the urethane. Geez, the melt weld for HDPE plastic is incredibly strong. No surprise urethane would bond just as well. I will say, if you lower the hopper or add weight to the hopper it will tame the Vibrasonic. It's achilles heel. Pursuing reliable belts is a great idea. My only complaint about that machine.
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Post by oregon on May 20, 2020 10:52:17 GMT -5
I checked the stiffness of the old o-rings to the new batch and found the new batch quite a bit stiffer. Noticeable when trying to streeeeetch them over the sheaves ! 4 very stiff springs on that machine, they may easily overcome the difference in belt tension. Anyway, no difference in tumbling performance whatsoever. I have tumbled 4 batches with the new stiffer o-rings and all went like normal. Very cool jig for bonding the urethane. Geez, the melt weld for HDPE plastic is incredibly strong. No surprise urethane would bond just as well. I will say, if you lower the hopper or add weight to the hopper it will tame the Vibrasonic. It's achilles heel. Pursuing reliable belts is a great idea. My only complaint about that machine.
The one factory belt that came with mine is significantly larger than the 3" O-ring, but the urethane is not as stretchy as the nitrile. Urethane comes in different flavors as well.
I'm also thinking that 'pull' of the orings is a pretty minor component of the motion, but I have to think about this machine more.
"I will say, if you lower the hopper or add weight to the hopper it will tame the Vibrasonic. It's achilles heel."
Think this makes sense as F=ma, so if the main force is generated from the spinning counterweight , increasing the mass should decrease the acceleration. Imagine for grinding that impacts with more force are more likely to grind till you reach a critical 'fracture' point? .... morning coffee musings.
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Post by tims on May 21, 2020 0:02:29 GMT -5
Have you guys witnessed how the viking reacts when it breaks a belt? I'm assuming it's pretty violent since the belts hold tension between the hopper and the base.
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